Paul David Wren (1964-2017) was a beloved member of the Mile Hi Chapter of the American Harp Society in Colorado. He served as principal harpist of the Aurora Symphony for 14 years, played for various local groups including the Colorado Wind Ensemble, the Evergreen Symphony and the Colorado Harp Ensemble. He served as President on the board of the Mile Hi Chapter for many years. Paul also enjoyed offering his beautiful music for weddings and special events, and offered solace to many families at the Olinger Crown Hill Mortuary. Paul was a member of the Cameron Church Community and helped organize ensemble performances and receptions there.
Paul was a native of Louisiana, and attended Lake Charles High School in Lake Charles, Louisiana, graduating in 1982. Paul’s passion was music: he attended McNeese State University as a composition major. During this time, he discovered the harp and fell in love with the instrument. Paul’s further studies of the harp took him to LSU, from where he graduated.
In addition to being a fabulous player, Paul was a community organizer. For group harp performances such as the annual Harp Fantasia with 50 harps, he was always reliable in organizing rehearsal space, providing extensive music ideas, encouragement, and guidance, and serving as a uniting force in the Colorado harp community. He was a mentor to musicians new to the area and offered support to harpists of all levels. His love was for the music and playing together. He also loved cooking, photography, and gardening. In providing leadership for the Mile Hi Chapter, he helped bring the Colorado harp community together by organizing potlucks, group harp performances, and maintaining the website as well as bolstering membership. His service to our community will be remembered as a labor of love and he will be greatly missed.
Paul David Wren passed away on June 7, 2017, at the age of 53 in Parker, Colorado. He will be missed by his partner of 13 years, Bill L. Lett; his siblings, Michael (Millie) Wren of Houma, LA; Susan (Wilburn) Walker of Pineville, LA; Becky (Brantley) Farque of Iowa, LA; 10 nieces and nephews, and 16 great nieces and nephews and all of his extended family, friends and the fellow musicians who had the pleasure of knowing him. He is preceded in death by his mother, Clemmie Wren and father, Rev. Emmit Wren.
—contributed by Erin Newton
